Forum Discussion
Bob_10976
Nimbostratus
NimbostratusTrying to improve performance via Profiles
Hello all, I'm looking to use one or more of the different types of profiles to help performance on my LTMs.
It started by one of my developer recently releasing a large application in test and we found that if we went around the VIP that the response time was much faster than going through the VIP. I did read an earlier post were there was a similar situation, however they resolved their issue by disabling NetBios over TCP on the dual homed NICs, we are not dual-homed. Anyway, after contacting support and running through the captures we made a change to the Application tier VIP, we changed the "Type" from Standard to Performance (Layer 4). This basically fixed the issue immediately.
This brought to light how we're probably not utilizing the LTM profiles to help maximize our performance. I wanted to try and get more information on these profiles, as well others, but I'm having a hard time coming up with documentation. I’m wanting to get a better understanding so I can associate to the proper VIP and Profile and not break it at the same time. I’m looking for information regarding the different “types”: Performance (HTTP) and Performance (Layer 4). I’d also like to get info on “OneConnect” Profile and the “http-wan-optimized-compression” Profile.
If anyone can point me in the right direction or have any information they can share It would be very much appreciated.
We currently run two 3400 units in Active/Passive mode. The majority of our websites and/or applications are access from the outside world, we use the LTM to offload SSL Certs for almost every VIP using SSL, we use iRules for redirects, rewrites, etc, SNAT is enabled as AutoMap only on our AppServers VIP, and the version we are running is 10.0.1
Thanks,
Bob
6 Replies
Michael_YatesFor information on these (Performance (HTTP) and Performance (Layer 4)) or the other Virtual Server Types. Click on any Virtual Server on your LTM and then change to the "Help" Tab. It will provide the following:
•Standard: Specifies a virtual server that directs client traffic to a load balancing pool and is the most basic type of virtual server. When you first create the virtual server, you assign an existing default pool to it. From then on, the virtual server automatically directs traffic to that default pool.
•Forwarding (Layer 2): Specifies a virtual server that shares the same IP address as a node in an associated VLAN.
•Forwarding (IP): Specifies a virtual server like other virtual servers, except that the virtual server has no pool members to load balance. The virtual server simply forwards the packet directly to the destination IP address specified in the client request.
•Performance (HTTP): Specifies a virtual server with which you associate a Fast HTTP profile. Together, the virtual server and profile increase the speed at which the virtual server processes HTTP requests.
•Performance (Layer 4): Specifies a virtual server with which you associate a Fast L4 profile. Together, the virtual server and profile increase the speed at which the virtual server processes layer 4 requests.
•Reject: Specifies that the BIG-IP system rejects any traffic destined for the virtual server IP address.
“OneConnect” Profile:
http://devcentral.f5.com/wiki/default.aspx/AdvDesignConfig/oneconnect.html
“http-wan-optimized-compression” Profile:
http://devcentral.f5.com/wiki/default.aspx/AdvDesignConfig/HTTPProfileWANOptimizedCompressionCaching.html
Hope this helps.
Bob_10976Michael...Thanks for the info, the links to “OneConnect” and “http-wan-optimized-compression” was pretty much what I was looking for.
However I was hoping there was something a bit more discription on the other profiles. Something that would help me understand better regarding what VIPs I can or cannot, (should not) apply to and why or how they will help or hurt my VIPs.
Thanks,
Bob- Bob_10976I believe I may have found what I was looking for: SOL8024: Overview of the FastHTTP profile
However if anyone has any other documentation or suggestions feel free to let me know..
Thanks,
Bob 
Cspillane_18296Hello Bob,
these might be of interest to you too:
Response Chunking:
http://devcentral.f5.com/Tutorials/TechTips/tabid/63/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/147/LTM-HTTP-Profile-Option-Response-Chunking.aspx
https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/7000/500/sol7559.html
TCP Profile:
http://devcentral.f5.com/Tutorials/TechTips/tabid/63/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/282/Investigating-the-LTM-TCP-Profile-Nagles-Algorithm.aspx
http://devcentral.f5.com/Tutorials/TechTips/tabid/63/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/300/Investigating-the-LTM-TCP-Profile-Acknowledgements.aspx
http://devcentral.f5.com/Tutorials/TechTips/tabid/63/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/309/Investigating-the-LTM-TCP-Profile-The-Finish-Line.aspx
https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/7000/500/sol7559.html
Let me know if there's anything specific you need assistance with and I'll do my best to help.
Thanks.- Cspillane_18296Oops, one of my links was wrong, should have been:
https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/5000/300/sol5379.html
for an overview of http compression and response chunking. - Cspillane_18296Hi again Bob,
a couple more for you:
SSL Ciphers:
https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/7000/800/sol7815.html
Choosing appropraite profiles for HTTP traffic:
https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/4000/700/sol4707.html
Cheers!
